Car-coupling



.(No Model.)

s. s J. C. PBRNALD.

GAR. GOUPLING.

110.461,6'70. Patented Oct. 20. 1891.

Wifneases: Zw /z UNITED STATES ATENT OEEICE.

SAMUEL FERNALD AND JAMES C. FERNALD, OE PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

CA-R-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,670, dated October 20, 1891.

i Application filed February 3, 1891. Serial No. 380,103. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, SAMUEL FERNALD and JAMES C. FERNALD, both of PhiladelphiaJ and State of Pennsylvania, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement in the Car- Coupler Used on Railway-Cars, whereby the coupling is performed automatically by gravity alone and without danger to employes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

Our invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following specification,

and are shown in the accompanying drawings,

' by an economical and etlcient coupling delvice employing a pin and link such as are now in general use, so that a car equipped with our improved coupling devices is adapted to be coupled with a car provided with the ordinary pin-and-link coupling as well as with one provided with our improvements.

Our invention also includes certain improvements for supporting and directing the link into the draw-head of the car with which it is to be connected.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the draw-head provided with our improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same with the coupling-pin. 3 is a perspective view of the pin-supporter. Fig. 4c is a vertical sectional view of the drawhead on line 0c of Fig. 2 with the couplingpin removed, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the link-directing weight.

J is the draw-head provided with the usual hole j for the coupling-pin. Thefdraw-head J may be any convenient construction and form.

D is the coupling-pin.

E is the link;

A is a pin-supporting` projection carried on the axis C.

B is an extension or flap carried by the axis C and having a central opening.` The axis C is journaled in the draw-head J, as shown, with the projection A under the hole j to support the pin D and the flap B depending on the interior of the draw-head.

For convenience and economy of construction the axis C, iiap P, and projectionA may be cast in one solid piece, as shown in Fig. 3.

H is a Weight located within the draw-head J behind the iiap B and provided with a lip 71. This lip 7L is-preferably arranged so as to be struck by the end of the Iiap B when the latter is moved by the link in entering the drawhead. The weight H, through this lip h, thus serves to support or direct the linkE and holds it projecting out from the draw-head, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that it will be in proper position to be inserted into the drawhead of another car.

The lower portion of the opening of the draw-head is preferably provided with a ridge a, which serves to support the body of the link in a slightly-raised position, and thus to elevate its end for the purpose of better supporting and guiding the link into the opposite draw-head.

From the buffer or face of the draw-head the sides upon the interior may be made to converge, as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of guiding the link laterally into its proper position. The weight H is free to move to suit the variations in the movements of the two cars which are coupled. F G are guiding-pins for the weight H. Instead of these guiding-pins, the Weight H may be pivoted at its rear end, as shown in dotted lines at f.

Since the weight H is free to move in the manner described, it will be seen that the coupling device is suited to links of different lengths and is not limited in its action to any one size of link. The end of the link may be pushed under the weight H to a greater or less extent, as may be necessary to suit the length of the link employed. v

The operation of the coupling device is apparent. The pin is placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, supported by the projection A. The link E upon entering the draw-head strikes the flap B and moves it, turning the projection A away from the end of the pin D, which drops through the opening in the flap B and link E, coupling the cars together. The roo. end ot the link is supported by the lip of the Weight H, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

2, so that it is held thereby in an approxi mately horizontal or slightly-elevated position, so as to properly enter the opposite draw? head.

Vhile We prefer the minor details of construction shown` it is apparent that they may be modified Without departing from the invcntion.

That We claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. The combination of a draw-head, a coupling-pin, a movable pin-supporter adapted to support the pin in a raised position and pro jeeting in the path of the link upon entering the draw-head, a link, and a iiat movable Weight Il, resting upon the interior of the draw-head and free to move to admit the end of the link to pass under it.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, pin, link, and pin-supporter adapted to be struck bythe link upon entering the drawhead to release the pin, ot the movable Weight Il, having its under surface resting upon the bottom of the interior of the draw-head and free to move to permit the end of the link to pass under it to a greater or less extent, according to the length of the link.

3. The combination of a draw-head and pin with a pivoted axis C, having a pin-support ing projection A and a depending' iiap B formed with an opening io permit the pin when released to drop through it, the linkE,

and the movable Weight H, arranged within the draw-head behind the flap B and provided with the upwardly-projecting guiding-lip 71,.

4. The draw-head formed with a raised portion or supporting-ridge adjacent to its cntrance, a coupling-link, a pin, a movable pinsupporter projecting under said pin to support it in a raised position and provided with an extension in the path of the link in enteringr the draw-head, a director-weight arranged behind the extension of the pin-supporter and adapted to support the inner end of the link, With the body of the link resting upon said ledge at the entrance of the draw-head and its outer edge more or less elevated.

5. The combination of a draw-head and pin with a pivoted axis C, having a pin-supporting projection A and a depending iiap B formed with an opening to permit the pin when released to drop through it, the link E, and the movable Weight H, arranged within the draw-head behind the iap B and provided with the upwardly-projecting guiding-lip 7i, arranged in the line of movement of the end of the Hap B and adapted to be struck thereby, whereby the link is held and supported by said lip h.

SAMUEL FERNALD. JAMES C. FERNALD. Witnesses:

EDWIN M. BENDER, W. C. KCHLING. 

